Magnolia. what a movie.

[new2AMD]

Originally posted by: JSang

Originally posted by: new2AMD

Originally posted by: JSang
actually pt anderson said he wasnt aware of the bibical reference when he came up with the frogs. it was just something that freakishly occurs (kinda like the 3 examples at the beginning of the movie). i just took it as his attempt to try and shock the viewers into thinking about it & realizing that sometimes crap just happens....thats life...but it can connect people.

any other thoughts?

it seems abundantly clear he intended the reference. He uses the numbers 8 and 2 over and over and then even uses it in the forecast. Then has the frogs rain down. How he can get people to think otherwise is beyond me. I believe there is a sign in an audience scene showing the sign exodus 8:2 like you used to see at football games for john 3:16. Im not a religous person and dont know all the verses, but to me its obvious.

actually i meant he didnt have it in mind when he first wanted to put it into the movie. heres an excerpt from an interview

Q: The film has obvious biblical overtones, and I noticed in at least a few scenes signs embossed with "Exodus 8:2."

A: Yeah, there's more than that. There's many, many more. I bet you could probably spot a hundred. Exodus 8:2 (describes) the plague of frogs in the Bible. The funny thing is, my reasons for using the plague of frogs aren't exactly biblical. I didn't even know it was in the Bible until after I wrote the script. The rain of frogs is something that really happens. Did you know that? It's a true thing.

The recent happening of frogs raining was when a hurricane(or tornado) came over a river bed and swept up all the frogs and dropped them some miles away on or near a state border. At least as far as its been reported. That guy is whacked anyway. But in a good way.

Edit: Here is the story:
The most recent story, from the Press Democrat news services, was in June of 1997.


"CULIACAN, Mexico- It rained toads in the town of Villa Angel Flores.
A small tornado whirled up a cluster of toads from a local body of water Saturday night and dropped them all the town in the Pacific coast state of Sineloa, the newspaper El Debate reported Tuesday.
Motorists reported the amphibians dropping from the sky around 11 p.m."

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: JSang
actually pt anderson said he wasnt aware of the bibical reference when he came up with the frogs. it was just something that freakishly occurs (kinda like the 3 examples at the beginning of the movie). i just took it as his attempt to try and shock the viewers into thinking about it & realizing that sometimes crap just happens....thats life...but it can connect people.

any other thoughts?

PT Anderson is an odd guy with an even odder sense of humor... I loved magnolia but a friend of mine saw a preview screening followed by a Q&A session for Punch Drunk Love.. When someone asked about the symbolism of the first scene (with the organ) and the odd purple/blue lens flair he said "It's a fvcking movie! there is no symbolism in any of my movies!".... Obviously, he was joking...

The frogs scene and the 8:2 are OBVIOUSLY bible references and the whole movie is deep in symbolism.. PT is probably just pissed about interviewers spelling symbols out.. It's frustrating for me as a film student for classes to just butcher movies (like the work of hitchcock) and turn work into simple collections of symbols.. I've lost my point but imagine if you wrote a story full of deep symbolism - wouldn't you be pissed if someone just splurted out "oh, it's about his mom!"?

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: JSang

Originally posted by: new2AMD

Originally posted by: JSang
actually pt anderson said he wasnt aware of the bibical reference when he came up with the frogs. it was just something that freakishly occurs (kinda like the 3 examples at the beginning of the movie). i just took it as his attempt to try and shock the viewers into thinking about it & realizing that sometimes crap just happens....thats life...but it can connect people.

any other thoughts?

it seems abundantly clear he intended the reference. He uses the numbers 8 and 2 over and over and then even uses it in the forecast. Then has the frogs rain down. How he can get people to think otherwise is beyond me. I believe there is a sign in an audience scene showing the sign exodus 8:2 like you used to see at football games for john 3:16. Im not a religous person and dont know all the verses, but to me its obvious.

actually i meant he didnt have it in mind when he first wanted to put it into the movie. heres an excerpt from an interview

Q: The film has obvious biblical overtones, and I noticed in at least a few scenes signs embossed with "Exodus 8:2."

A: Yeah, there's more than that. There's many, many more. I bet you could probably spot a hundred. Exodus 8:2 (describes) the plague of frogs in the Bible. The funny thing is, my reasons for using the plague of frogs aren't exactly biblical. I didn't even know it was in the Bible until after I wrote the script. The rain of frogs is something that really happens. Did you know that? It's a true thing.

Where's Tommy Vercetti when u need em. lol

 

[DigDug]

so what? So what if every damn line is a biblical reference? What's so "deep" about that?

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: BlipBlop
so what? So what if every damn line is a biblical reference? What's so "deep" about that?

Listen.. I agree that bible references is a bit self indulgent.. In fact, PT Anderson is the most self indulgent film maker working.. But pointless symbolism (well, the symbolism does have a point related directing to the plot - character seeking redemption and being connected by a plague of sorts) is better than inane nothingness, like most movies made today.. People get offended by movies that TRY to make you think (I agree that too much/obvious symbolism is trite) but they lap up crap like 2fast2furious...

 

[StageLeft]

Magnolia. what a [bloody boring] movie.

 

[JSang]

yes i realize those are bible references...but pta likes to throw in random stuff. all i meant was that perhaps that its a bible reference isnt very significant to its meaning in the story and he just threw it in there because he can.

 

[new2AMD]

Originally posted by: JSang
yes i realize those are bible references...but pta likes to throw in random stuff. all i meant was that perhaps that its a bible reference isnt very significant to its meaning in the story and he just threw it in there because he can.

I find that hard to believe. Not saying you are wrong but Im not buyin what ur sellin.

What is "because he can"? Because he is the director or cuz he is smart enough to or cuz the story just "happens" to incorporate exodus 8:2? I believe its the latter. Whether or not he wrote it with that intention is not of any relevance to me. He could have easliy written this then been turned on to the reference and then added it in to the filming. I doubt it but he could have. I just find it hard to believe the frogs and redemption theme was by accident.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Magnolia. what a [bloody boring] movie.

i cut if off before it was over, but "bloody" wasnt the word i used to describe how boring it was